Questions for 1st AR

So, I going to do my first AR. I am going for cheap quality. I want hi-speed, low drag.

I have decided to buy a stripped lower reciever at the SATEX gun show this saturday.

Then I am going to buy a kit, probably from model 1 sales. I know a couple of things for sure.

I am going with a 16" barrel and A2 upper with the fixed carry handle. Simple, cheaper, and I am not a big fan of fancy sites anyway. I do not want to add anything like a forward grip or anything, so I do not need rails on my handguard. I will probably buy a match trigger and install it later. It is the same price wether I get it with a kit or not. Im getting a telescoping stock.

Some things I have not decided on, because I do not know enough.

Do I want the standard "CAR" configuration, or do I want this with free-floating handguards? What are the downsides of free-floating?

Or do I want a dissipator? I understand that basicaly on this, the handguard is longer and it has a longer sighting radius. It also has a different gas system. The benefits of a longer radius are obvious, but does this make quick aiming harder at shorter ranges? Is there somthing other than sight radius that I am missing?

How important is a chromed barrel? The advantages are obvious, but if I clean it after every session, is it going to be an issue? I am willing to drop the $80 on this, but just how important is it?

My AR shooting experience is ~200 rounds from my friends Bushy M4gery and a couple magazines from some nice guy at the range with a standard 20"

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bender

October 4, 2006, 11:07 PM

Hi Malice, I'm also in San Antonio, and will probably go to the SAXET show on saturday. I recently started a thread called AR-15 kits... and asked some of the same questions as you are...

Malice

October 4, 2006, 11:08 PM

Cool, I will look there. When you going to the show? Been there before? Do they have amny lowers?

bender

October 4, 2006, 11:11 PM

I've been to that show a few times, but I was not shopping for ar-kits...

the only reason I'm going saturday is to AR shop... :)

I'm not crazy about the Broadway show since the crowd is bad. The Alzafar show is also done by SAXET, but it's way less crowded. There may be another Alzafar show towards the end of October.

DougW

October 4, 2006, 11:48 PM

Malice, I have built 5 AR's and have found a few things that work better for ME (YNNV). The CAR or M4gery are nice. The free floating handguards are handy if you are going to put a NICE scope on the rifle. Free floats free up the barrel of the handguards constraints. I have not built a free floater yet. No real downside at all. You can buy free float rail equiped hand guards and easily install.

Chrome lined are supposed to be slightly easier to clean than chrome moly, but chrome lined are not as accurate as chrome moly. Chrome lined are good if you plan to slop around in the mud and muck of a jungle for a few months. All my rifles have chrome moly barrels. You could go stainless on the barrel too.

A dissy gives you the sight radius of a 20" rifle with a 16" barrel. I have both the 20 and the 16, but no dissy. Your call.

I would highly recomend an A3/A4 upper reciever with a removab;e rear sight of some kind. Makes scope of electronic sight installation a WHOLE LOT easier! I have 2 A3/A4 setups, and I will probably change one or 2 of the others out later.

Start with a basic kit, then add a nice railed fore arm and higher grade butt stock. Then watch your pennies flow away as you add stuff to your first rifle, like your second rifle! Good hunting!

MatthewVanitas

October 5, 2006, 01:06 AM

If you're going to SAXET, email THR member TejasGunwerks and see if he's bringing any stripped AR-15 lowers with him. He usually has some in stock, but I don't know how often he does the SanAnton show, as he's Austin-based.

Aside from TejasGunwerks (DPMS) and Spreadfire (Stag), (both THR members, dang we're incestuous around here), I don't usually see stripped lower at the SAXET show in Austin. FWIW.

-MV

g56

October 5, 2006, 01:46 AM

I would recommend you start with something basic, you can option it up anytime later as you figure out your likes and dislikes.

Model 1 Sales doesn't have a good reputation, IMHO stay away.

I highly recommend Del Ton or J&T Distributing for AR kits, I have used both of these companies for my 3 AR builds, my most recent was a 16" carbine from Del Ton.

http://www.del-ton.com/

http://www.jtdistributing.com/

carnaby

October 5, 2006, 05:40 PM

I was looking at kits too, and I'd like to get something in 6.8spc, and only Model 1 seems to have a kit in that chambering. CMMG is too expensive.

Who makes all the parts for model 1 anyway? Do they make the receivers in house?

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